Albert Roca Wishes To Develop Footballers Who Can Represent India

Bengaluru: The newly-appointed Bengaluru Football Club head coach, Albert Roca, yesterday said he would like to carry forward the good work of his predecessor Ashley Westwood who had the distinction of winning three major domestic trophies.

"Yes, nothing can be taken away from my predecessor Ashley's good work. He built the club from the scratch and won accolades. Let me assure you, I am not here just for the results, but here to win major trophies and develop players who can represent Team India," he told reporters here.

Roca, who is instrumental in bringing four time Ballon D'Or winner Lionel Messi into the first team squad from their famed academy of La Masia, is in the city to train the boys ahead of an important AFC quarterfinal fixture in September.

Asked whether he would bring in a new style of football for BFC to adopt, Roca said each coach has his own strategies and style, and having worked with one of the best coaches, he would take full advantage of it to improve football in India.

"All coaches have their own personalities; their own style of football. I have the advantage of having worked with one of the best coaches in the world. Let us see whether I would be able to make our supporters at the end of the year,"he said.

Roca has the distinction of serving as an assistant to Frank Rijkaard for five seasons at Barcelona, from 2003 to 2008. The Spaniard's last job was as manager of the El Salvador national team where he was in charge for a year.

Asked how difficult would it be to take up the mantle of a coach when the team is in transition mode, Roca said it is not going to be easy with just six weeks away for the AFC quarterfinal match in September. The long-duration I-League also will give him an opportunity to assess the club's potential, Roca said.

Asked what convinced him to take up the job of BFC Coach, Roca said he accepted the offer because he likes challenges thrown before him, and his effort would be to make Indian football strong in years to come.

"I saw a serious offer coming my way, and I accepted it because it is a challenge of making Indian football strong, and some day qualify for football world cup," he said. Roca said the merger of ISL and I-League will be good for Indian football as the competition will be much tougher.